Device for aligning feed of paper sheets in printing machines



Feb. 16, 1954 cz 2,669,454

DEVICE FOR ALIGNING FEED OF PAPER SHEETS IN PRINTING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l v r I I Q v 0Q Gear i zi,

Inga I W 1954 G. BABICZ 69,454

DEVICE FOR ALIGNING FEED OF PAPER SHEETS I PRINTING MACHINES i Filed July 5, 1951 2 Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR ALIGNING FEED OF PAPER SHEETS IN PRINTING MACHINES 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to devices for properly alining or correcting the feed of paper sheets in printing machines, and has for its main object the provision of a suitable device whereby the paper sheets may be properly adjusted so that the same may be fed towards and into the printing rollers upon a uniform line relative to the transverse plane through the printing rollers.

While in my co -pending application, Serial No. 73,158, filed January 27,. 1949, which has matured in Patent No. 2,604,322, I have disclosed a device for adjusting the feed of paper sheets longitudinally with relation tothe direction or" the shiftmg of the paper sheets towards the printing rollers, or in a transverse relation with the printing: rollers, the present device has for its object the" adjustment of the paper sheets transversely with'relation tothe direction of the shifting. of the paper sheets towards the printing rollers, orrin a. longitudinal relation with the printing rollers.

Another object of the present invention is the provision: of a guide in a parallel relation with the conveyor. upon which the paper sheets are carried toward the printing roller, with means causing one side edge of a paper sheet as the same is shifted towards the printing. rollers to come in contact with the said guide so that the paper sheet may be fed upon a straight line which is co-incidental with thesides of the paper sheets.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a pair of wheels, coacting with the guide aforesaid, and in a biased rela tion therewith, and engaging the paper sheet as the' same is shifted upon a conveyor towards the printingrollers, for forcing one side edge" of a paper sheet to come in contact with the guide so that the paper may be fed to the printing rollers upon a uniform straight line;

' Another object of the present invention is the provision of means for regulating the pressure of the said wheels upon the paper sheet engaged thereby so as to render the device efilcient and operable relative to the various weights and thicknesses of the paper sheets.

A still. further object of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of resilient feathers pressing against the opposite side edge of the paperfor shifting the paper towards said guide whereby the opposite side edge of the paper may come in contact with the said guide so that the paper sheets may be shifted and fed towards the printing rollersupon a uniform line, and which said feathers may act as auxiliary means to said wheels, or wholly independently thereof.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Fig. 1 is a plan elevational view of the track upon which the paper sheets are carried towards the printing rollers, with the present device in an operative position therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the guide and a pair of wheels in a biased or oblique relation therewith which engage the paper as the same is fed towards the printing rollers, for forcing one of the side edges of the paper sheet to come in contact with the guide, the view having beentaken substantially on line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view transversely of the guide, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the rear elevational view of the paper engaging wheels;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of another guide supporting a plurality of feathers for contacting the: opposite side edge of the paper as the same is fed towards the printing rollers for shifting the paper sheet away from said guide and the feathers and towards the opposite first hereinabove mentioned guide, the view having been taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the present drawings there is shown a frame, including a pair of frame bars It in a parallel mutual relation. One end of said frame bars l0 supports bearings H, within which shaft I2 is journaled, the latter supporting printing roller I3. Another printing roller, not shown, is in contact with said roller i3 and disposed therebelow. Mounted upon said frame bars I!) in a downwardly depending relation is a plurality of rods M, in a transverse relation with the frame, and in a parallel relation with the printing rollers. Rod 14, nearest disposed to the printing rollers has a pair of sprocket wheels, including integrally formed collars l5, journaled thereon for supporting the front ends of a pair of endless conveyor chains [6, the latter being provided with the usual pairs of pins H, which engage the rear edges of paper sheets l8 for carrying the same towards the printing rollers as said chains 26 shift.

Disposed outwardly of each conveyor chain H is a guide, which is generally indicated by numeral I9 in Fig. l, and which includes horizontal plate and a vertical guard 2 I, integrally formed therewith. Vertical guard 2| of each guide I9 is farthest removed from the adjacent conveyor chain I6. Horizontal plates 20 of said guides |9 are substantially in a co-planar relation with the upper level of conveyor chains I6, so that the paper sheets carried towards the printing rollers rest upon said conveyor chains It as well as upon horizontal plates 23. Upper plate 20 as viewed in Fig. 1 is slightly on a lower plane than the lower plate 20, for the reason which will be later apparent.

Mounted upon said plates 20, and downwardly depending therefrom are brackets 22, the free ends of which are recessed for receiving therewithin said rods I4. By virtue of this arrangement guides I9 may be shifted to or away from each other for substantially conforming the space therebetween to the width of the paper sheets. Passed laterally of said brackets 22 are thumbscrews 23 for engaging rods I4 and thereby for maintaining guides I9 in their adjusted position;

As an additional means for adjusting the guides I9 there is shown in Fig. 1 an oblong slotted plate 24, soldered or otherwise rigidly aiiixed to the underface of plate 28. Said plate 24 is supported upon plate 25 which extends from frame it. By means of bolt and wing nut fastener 26 the two plates 24 and 25 are interlocked to maintain them in a mutual adjusted relation, and thereby for rigidly so that a point of its periphery is on a plane coincidental with the upper face of plate 2%. Said wheel 28 is supported upon shaft 29, which is journaled in bearing 38. The latter is aiiixed to the outer face of guard 2| and downwardly depends therefrom, as is seen in Fig. 2. Said shaft 29 by universal joint 3| connects with shaft 32, which has sprocket wheel 33 keyed thereto. Said sprocket wheel 33 has a hub collar .34 integrally formed therewith at both sides thereof. Said collar contacts with hearing 35 extending from plate 36, the latter rigidly supported by frame bar l0. Said shaft 32 is supported within said bearing 35 for rotary movement therewithin. Collar 31 integrally f armed with shaft 29 normally contacts with the adjacent faceof bearing 30, preventing said shaft 29 from further shifting in the direc tion of bearing 30.

Sprocket chain 38 is passed over sprocket wheel 33. Motive power is imparted to chain 38 for rotating sprocket wheel 33 and through it shafts 32 and 29 for imparting a rotary movement to wheel 28.

It is observed that shaft 29 is in an angular position with relation to guide I 9 with which the same cooperates. Wheel 28 is in an oblique relation with plate 20, its portion nearest to the printing rollers I3 is at the nearest proximity to guard 2 I, as is best seen in Fig. 1, and it is further noted that Wheel 28 is rotated into a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, that is the upper portion of said wheel 28 rotates towards the printing rollers.

Aifixed to guard 2| is an upwardly extending bracket 39, at the upper end of which bearing is integrally formed. J ournaled within saidbearing 49 is one end of shaft 4| which is in a transverse relation with guide I8. Supported by the opposite end of said shaft 4|, which overhangs plate 20, is supporting lug 42. The lower end of said lug 42 is recessed, as at 43, wherein said shaft 4| is seated. Thumb-screw 44 passed through the rear end of said lug 42 is adapted to engage said shaft 4| for the purpose of maintaining said lug 42 in a rigid adjusted relation with said shaft 4|. The upper end of said lug 42 is bifurcated for receiving therewithin the rear end of Wheel supporting arm 45. Pin 46 passed through the upper end of said lug 42 and said arm provides a pivot for the latter. The front end of said arm 45 is bent towards guard 2|, and carries wheel 41. Said wheel 4'1 remains in con" tact with wheel 23 in the absence of a paper sheet therebetween. Rigidly affixed to arm 45 and sub stantially centrally thereof is threaded rod 48, which is in a parallel relation with arm 45 and directed rearwardly thereof. In threaded engagement with said rod 48 is weight 45.

From the hereinabove description it will be apparent that with relation to rod 48 pin 45 constitutes a fulcrum. When said weight 49 is shifted upon said rod 43 in the direction of front end of arm 45 and wheel 4! a greater degree of pressure of wheel 4? upon wheel 28 will be brought about than when said weight is shifted to the opposite direction. In fact when said weight 49 has been shifted to the very end of said rod 48 only a hardly perceptible degree of contact between wheels 28 and 41 will result.

Wheels 28 and 41 being in an oblique relation with plate 28, with their front portions in the nearest proximity toward 2 I, when paper sheets shift upon plate 20 by being carried by conveyor chains It and pins H, the right edge of the paper sheets will be received between said wheels 28 and 4l. The oblique position of the said wheels with relation to plate 20 will cause the paper sheet to shift laterally and towards the adjacent guard 2| until the edge of the paper comes incontact with said guard 2|. When that is accomplished further lateral shifting of the paper will be prevented by said guard 2|,- so that after that said wheels 28 and 4'! will become inoperative for all intents and purposes, without however ailect ing the operativeness of conveyor chains IE5 and pins I'i. They will continue to carry the paper sheets towards the printing rollers, with the edges of the paper sheets in contact with guard 2 I, and without regard to said wheels 28 and 41.

When heavy or stiff paper is being fed to the printing rollers, it will require greater pressure between wheels 28 and 41 in order to shift its edge in contact with guard 2| than a thinner paper would require. Hence the regulation of the pressure between the said two wheels by the action of weight 49 as the same is shifted towards one or the opposite end of arm 45 and rod 48.

Although one pair of wheels 28 and 41 in co operation with guide It would suffice to shift the adjacent edge of the paper sheets towards guard 2| and in contact therewith as the paper sheets are being fed to and between the printing rollers, if desired two or more pairs of said wheels 23 and 41 may be set up in cooperation with the same guide I9.

Although wheels 28 and 41 would suffice to bring the adjacent edge of the paper sheets in contact with guard 2|, nevertheless, in order to assure the most eflicient shifting of the paper sheets laterally in order that their edges may come in contact with guard 2|, before the paper sheets are received between the printing rollers. an auxiliary device for pushing the paper laterally towards one of said guards 2! is provided. Said device includes a plurality of feathers 56, each consisting of a comparatively thin resilient and oblong strip, soldered or otherwise rigidly affixed by one of its ends to the opposite guard 2|. The free ends of said feathers 50 tend to spring away from guard 2|.

Fastened to the upper face of'plate 20 in guide l9"with which said feathers 50 are associated is cleat 5|, which is positioned adjacent the free edge of said plate 20, and in a spaced relation with guard 21, as seen in Fig. 5. This cleat 5! has a double purpose. First, it confines the free ends of feathers 50 within the space defined by said guard 21 and said oleat 5|, thereby preventing the free ends of said feathers Sofrom springing beyondplate 20, and second, it prevents the paper sheet from falling below feathers 59, as the paper rides. on topv of said cleat. 5L, Thus saidcleat 5| forms a guard preventing paper sheets from impinging between plate 20 and said feathers 5!]. in order that the paper sheets as they are carried towards the printing rollers may be sup ported upon a horizontal plane plate 20 of guide IS with which said feathers 50 are associated should be upon a plane slightly below that of the opposite plate 20, just to the extent of the thickness of cleat 5i so that the paper resting upon cleat 5|, conveyor chains 16 and the opposite plate 20 would rest upon a horizontal plane.

For preventing the paper sheets from shifting or curling by their adjacent edges above said feathers 50 a suitable guard is provided, consisting of a vertical bar 52, which overhangs cleat 5|, and is in a spaced relation therewith and with the free ends of feathers 50, as is clearly seen in Fig. 5. Said bar 52 is maintained in a position by a plurality of supporting members 53 which are recessed at their upper ends for receiving rods 54. Thumb-screws 55 passing through the upper ends of said members 53 engage said rods 54 for rigidly maintaining said supporting members 53 and said bar 52 in a suspended relation with cleat 5|.

The ends of said rods 54 are supported within the upper ends of standards 56 rigidly aflixed to frame bars l and upwardly projecting therefrom. Of course, said rods 54 are disposed above rods 14 as well as above the paper carrying and supporting parts, including conveyor chains I6 and guides [9.

From the hereinabove description it will be readily seen that due to adjustability of brackets 22 and supporting members 53 upon rods I 4 and 54, respectively, guides It may be shifted to or away from each other, with bar 52 shifted to conform to the adjusted position of the guide I 9 with which the same coacts. The adjustability of these parts is desirable in order to fit the same to any particular width of the paper sheets fed towards the printing rollers.

As hereinabove indicated wheels 28 and 41 alone will be suflicient to shift the paper towards the adjacent guard 2i and in contact therewith. This equally holds true relative to feathers because irrespective of wheels 28 and 41 feathers e 50 alone are also sufficient to shift the edge of paper sheets in contact with the opposite guard 2!. Therefore, these two devices may be used separately or together.

By means of the present device the adjustment of the" paper sheet transversely thereof orin a; longitudinal relation with the printing rollers will be most accurate, because the paper sheet coming in contact with guard 2| can shift only in one, single, defined and predetermined path, that is the path chartered by guard 2! with the side edge of the paper is in contact as the paper is fed towards the printing rollers.

It is further observed that when the present device is used in conjunction with the device disclosed in my said patent, which regulates or corrects the feed of the paper longitudinally of the course upon which the paper sheet travels towards the printing rollers, that is in a trans verse relation with the paper rollers, the ultimate positioning of the paper sheets with relation to the printing rollers will be so accurate thatthe same paper-sheet received between the printing rollers more than once will receive the printing impression in the same points, so that it would be not noticeable that the paper sheet .has passed through theprinting rollers more than once.

' It is further noted that obviously wheels 28 and 4! may be positioned to the opposite direction, that is with their frontportions facing or disposed towards the opposite guard 21. There would be no objection to such an arrangement provided that feathers are eliminated from their association with said opposite guard 2 I. In that latter event the opposite side edge of the paper sheet would come in contact with said opposite guard 21, and the device would operate fairly well, particularly with heavier or stiffer paper sheets.

While there is described herein preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a printing machine including printing rollers, means for positively advancing paper sheets directly toward the printing rollers in a direction at right angles to the axes of the printing rollers and a device for moving the advancing sheets into a desired position along the lengths of the printing rollers, said device comprising a uide including a horizontal plate and! a vertical guard extending in a direction at right angles to the axes of the printing rollers, a first wheel, said plate being provided with a slot, said wheel partially entering said slot from below said plate, an arm pivotally supported by its rear end above said plate, a second wheel journalled at the front end of said arm, said second wheel being normally in contact with said first wheel, the contact point between said wheels being substantially on a plane coincidental with the plane of the upper face of said plate, said Wheels being in an oblique relation with said guard, portions of said wheels nearest to the printing rollers being in the nearer proximity of said guard than the remaining portions of said wheels, means for imparting a rotary movement to one of said wheels,

' paper sheets fed toward the printing rollers being received between said Wheels for bringing one side edge of the paper sheets in contact with said guard prior to the reception of the paper sheets by the printing rollers, a rod secured to said arm at a point intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, said rod including a threaded portion extending substantially parallel to said arm from a point forwardly of said pivot point to a point,

rearwardly of said pivot point, and a weight in threaded engagement with said threaded portion for movement axially thereof. whereby said weight may be shifted upon said rod forwardly or rearwardly of said pivot point for increasing or decreasing the contactual pressure of said second named wheel upon said first named wheel.

2. In a printing machine including printing rollers, means for positively advancing paper sheets directly toward the printing rollers in a direction at right angles to the axes of the printing rollers and a device for moving the advancing sheets into a desired position along the lengths of the printing rollers, said device comprising a guide including a horizontal plate and a vertical guard extending in a direction at right angles to the axes oi printing rollers, a first wheel, said plate being provided with a slot, said wheel partially entering sslot from below said plate, an arm pivotally supported by its rear end above said plate, a second Wheel journalled at the front end of said arm, said second wheel being normally in contact with said first wheel, the contact point between said whe is being substantially on a plane coincidental with the plane of the upper face of plate, said wheels beingrin an oblique relation with said guard, portions of said wheels a nearest to the printing rollers being in the nearer proximity of guard than the remaining po1' tlons of said wheels, means for imparting a rotary movement to one of said wheels, paper sheets fed toward the printing. rollers being received between said wheels for bringing one side edge of the paper sheets in Contact with said guard prior to the r ception of the paper sheets the printing rollers, a rod secured to said arm at a point intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, a portion of said rod extending substantially parallel to said arm from a point forwardly of said pivot point to a point rearwardly of said pivot point, and a weight carried by said portion for movement axially thereof whereby said weight may be shifted upon said rod forwardly or rearwardly of said pivot point for increasing or decreasing the contactual pressure of said second named wheel upon said first named wheel.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for positively advancing paper sheets directly toward the printing rollers comprises an endless chain extending in a direction at right angles to the axes'of the printing rollers, and at least one pin mounted on said chain for engaging an edge of the paper sheets to be advanced to said printing rollers.

GEORGE BABICZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

